Next hurdle for Simi Valley’s Alex Billing to clear is Division II title

Simi Valley track and field coach Steve Ringgold has made several strong endorsements this season regarding not only the talent, but the tireless work ethic of Alex Billing.

The Pioneers junior hurdler and jumper continues to validate the advanced billing, especially at Friday’s Marmonte League championships at Moorpark High.

Billing ran a lifetime-best 14.01 seconds under all conditions in the 110-meter hurdles to not only defend his title, but improve by more than a second from last year’s championship run.

“In my seven years of coaching, no one trains as hard and as consistently as him,” Ringgold said. “I’ve used him as an example for our entire program. When I feel like we might be lacking energy in practice or we’re not as focused as we need to be, I talk about Alex because no one brings it like he does every day. It’s just great to watch him compete and enjoy this kind of success because he deserves it.”

Billing, who placed second in the long jump and third in the 300 hurdles Friday, has established himself as the favorite to win the Southern Section Division II title in the 110 hurdles May 24 at Cerritos College.

“I consider myself more of a finesse, technical hurdler, but (at league finals) I ran with a lot of speed and power. I had never run that fast before, so I really had to stay under control going over those last few hurdles,” Billing said. “The biggest thing for me in this race was just to run really hard. But I know there are still a few technical things I can improve upon, which is exciting.”

Only Long Beach Millikan’s Misana Viltz, Long Beach Wilson’s Bayron Manuel and Concord De La Salle’s Marquis Morris — all seniors — have run faster under all conditions this year than Billing among the state’s elite hurdlers.

Billing ran a wind-legal personal-best 14.19 to capture the Ventura County title May 2.

“I’ve been focusing more on my start. I feel like it’s really important for me to beat everyone to the first hurdle and then just build my race from there and work on staying tight going over the last three or four hurdles,” Billing said. “I feel like I’ve been really consistent this year and that has really helped me. I just need to run my own race and continue to try to get better.”

Learning curve

After capturing three gold medals and producing several personal-best efforts at Ventura County Championships, Agoura freshman Tara Davis expressed disappointment Friday at the Marmonte League finals after not improving on those marks, although she still won two titles and added a second-place finish in the long jump.

Advertisement

Davis’ biggest reaction didn’t come after either of her victories, but instead when teammate Nia Thompson also qualified for the Division II prelims in the triple jump.

“I’m really happy for her and that we get to go on to CIF together,” Davis said. “I just wasn’t in the zone (Friday). I didn’t have the same feeling or the same energy that I did last week. But I just have to realize that I always have more meets coming up and hopefully I can do better. I just have to stay hungry and keep working hard.”

Davis is seeded third in the 100 hurdles and long jump, along with ninth in the triple jump. She still leads all freshmen in the state in the long jump and triple jump, in addition to ranking second among ninth-graders in the 100 hurdles behind Vacaville’s Jurnee Woodward, who contributed to the Bulldogs setting the national high school record in the shuttle hurdles relay April 11 at the Arcadia Invitational.

End of the line

In addition to Westlake’s Abigail Smith not qualifying for the 100-meter dash prelims in Division II after re-aggravating her hamstring injury Friday, Saugus’ Samantha Ortega and Sabrina Janes — both state finalists last year — won’t compete in the postseason because of injuries.

Golden Valley’s Azaria Hill was held out of the 100 and 200 finals at the Foothill League championship meet as a precautionary measure after suffering a pulled hamstring in the 4 x 100 relay. Hill could still available to run Saturday on the Grizzlies’ relay, which is seeded sixth in Division II.